E30 Zone

Had a problem starting the car the other day, so thought it was the battery, so went out and bought a new battery.

Put the battery in, it started fine, all lights worked fine, engine started without any problems at all.

Came to start the car about 20 mintues later, and it wouldn't start! Exact same problem as last time, could hear something trying to turn over, but just hasn't got enough power to do so, no clicking noise though, just a noise like a washing machine makes, if you know what i mean.

Another porblem is, that the sump is broken, so the engine has NO engine oil in it at all, so could that be a reason why it;s not starting up? Could the engine be seized?
Also before i put the new battery in, I had a slight problem with the alarm, it was constantly beeping at a pretty quick rate when the key was in the off position and taken out it had never done that before...
Could the alarm be draining the battery?
I don't have the key fob for it becuase it's still with my freind who i bought the car off a few weeks ago, havent actaully driven the car since i bought it.

It's a 318iS.

Any ideas?

many thanks in advance!

First thing to do would be sort the sump out and get some oil in it...

As for the alarm, discoonect the whole thing so its not draining it.


Test your old battery again, have you tried charging it? The alarm my be draining it if you tried another and it worked.

Could have been the start motor, but you said you got a new battery and it worked, then it didnt 20 minutes later which could be due to something draining it. Also check the lights in the car to see if something is still on etc...

But start at sorting the sump!!! Else you'll have no engine soon enough

You've ran the engine with no engine oil in it at all. Are you insane!?

hello mate
the washing maschine noise sounds like u starter motor is faulty
make sure u have enough oil in before u start it
th battery goin flat cud be possible a drain from some where or alternator is not charging the battery

sag wrote:hello mate
the washing maschine noise sounds like u starter motor is faulty
make sure u have enough oil in before u start it
th battery goin flat cud be possible a drain from some where or alternator is not charging the battery

cud be possible ur alram try to diconnect it

I just started it up so see if it would start, for literally 5 seconds.

I'm getting the sump sorted before I try anything else, geting someone to come to my home and do it there and then.

But my question is, why would it start with a new battery in it, and then 20 minutes later not start up again? I just can't get my head around it.

Im pretty useless at electronics btw...

Could it be something to do with the engine straining to turn over? Straining the alternater, drainging the battery. ?

sag wrote:hello mate
the washing maschine noise sounds like u starter motor is faulty
make sure u have enough oil in before u start it
th battery goin flat cud be possible a drain from some where or alternator is not charging the battery

Funnliy enough my freind gave me a spare starter motor and an alternator with the car when I bought it off him!

He didn;t tell me they were needing replacing though!

My only advice, and it's not a criticism, is that you need to start looking at the immediate problem with your car. It ain't going to a garage unless on the back of a low loader at this rate.

Jim320i wrote:Could it be something to do with the engine straining to turn over? Straining the alternater, drainging the battery. ?

Something is not providing enough power from the sounds the car's giving out.


Don't know which part is the culprit though!

skipunda wrote:My only advice, and it's not a criticism, is that you need to start looking at the immediate problem with your car. It ain't going to a garage unless on the back of a low loader at this rate.

That's right, I'm regretting buying it now!

I thought it'd be a nice car to have, but theres always one problem after the other!
I don't mind throwing cash at it to get it sorted again even though it is a turd, but I don't really know how much more problems are going to crop up!

At this rate it's not even going to back out from the drive!

Well I can take it off your hands mate.

Start with the sump... Nothing before then would be my advise, get oil in there.

The sump is cracked? ANY amount of running with no oil will ruin an engine. Why dont you try a new engine, that one is f**ked

Why on earth would you even try to start a car that you know has no oil in it? Words fail me.

Get a sump on it, oil in it, and tr to start it, then go from there.

For god's sake stop trying to start it with no sump and oil. When you sort out what sounds like the starter motor not engaging properly, you'll then find the big end and main bearings are knocking their tits out if you keep on turning it over when it can't build any oil pressure.

I think fixing the sump may be a waste of time. Sounds like he has been running it for a while with no oil.

I'll take it off your hands if you give up.

How long have you had it running without oil?

BadMoonRising wrote:

+ 1

couldnt even imagine myself even putting the key in the igntion with no oil !

ouch

if your gonna run engines with no oil may i suggest you a saxo or the like ;)

Someones coming over to sort it out, until then my dad's hidden the keys

New sump, new battery, new manifold, new exhaust, new shocks, new bushes, new bearings, new spark plugs, new starter motor, new alternator, and lots of other new stuff are going to be put onto the car before it's started up.

It hasn't been driven anywhere since I bought it off my freind.

The only period it was run without oil was for less than 5 seconds just to see if it started up.

Not to worry, should be all good, if not, it'll be a new engine!

glad your getting it sorted m8, good luck

Yes good luck mate and please let us know how you go.......

djscottfree wrote:glad your getting it sorted m8, good luck

Its going to cost more than I bought the car for, but I love the car way too much to scrap it!

My dad has hidden the keys to the car to stop me from fiddling about with it and possibly ruining it beyong repair lol!

My mum thinks it's a "grandad" car for some strange reason!

m_jermyn wrote:Yes good luck mate and please let us know how you go.......

Will let you know, it's going to make me skint, but it's worthwhile!

My mum thinks it's a "grandad" car for some strange reason!

German-Whips wrote:Its going to cost more than I bought the car for

Been there, done that.....
Mine cost £1200 7 years ago and I've spent at least that, sometimes a lot more on it every year since.

my 325 chromie cost me a bag of sand, ive spent about 2k plus on it, i guess i will throw alot more at it, still love the e30 xxx

Its a love hate relationship isn't it?

One minute you hate the bloody turd then you love it again!

Its a love hate relationship isn't it?

couldnt agree more


when you finally get to drive yours, you realise its worth all the hassel, keep at it fella

German-Whips wrote:Someones coming over to sort it out, until then my dad's hidden the keys

New sump, new battery, new manifold, new exhaust, new shocks, new bushes, new bearings, new spark plugs, new starter motor, new alternator, and lots of other new stuff are going to be put onto the car before it's started up.

It hasn't been driven anywhere since I bought it off my freind.

The only period it was run without oil was for less than 5 seconds just to see if it started up.

Not to worry, should be all good, if not, it'll be a new engine!

my advice would be to not spend loads of money on it and fit loads of new parts until you have sorted the problem out.
just fit a good sump with new gasket, fit a battery you know to be good (borrowed from another car, if it's suitable). fill with oil and see how it goes.
then replace the starter motor if it won't do it's job properly.
you can check if the engine has seized by turning the bottom pulley with a ratchet and 27mm (?) socket and feel if the pistons are going up and down